How to Interpret the Results of Cost-effectiveness Analysis? / 薬剤疫学

ABSTRACT

Although pharmacoeconomic studies are used for policy decision-making such as reimbursement and pricing decisions in several industrialized countries, they have not yet been used in an explicit way in Japan. In this article, the general methodology to interpret the results of cost-effectiveness analyses, the present situation of the usage of those analyses in the government policy of other countries, and the potential and problems of their application to policy making in Japan, are discussed. <BR>It should be noted that other factors are considered in the decision-making process, such as clinical need, equity of access, the “rule of rescue”, and the total cost to the health care system. However, it is inappropriate to ignore the viewpoint of cost-effectiveness with regards to the budget constraint. The establishment of guidelines for the submission of pharmacoeconomic studies is necessary to ensure their validity, which leads to improved transparency of the process of health policy making.